Diversity loss increases chance of ecosystem collapse (#journal)

Diversity loss with persistent human disturbance increases vulnerability to ecosystem collapse

Long-term and persistent human disturbances have altered the stability and diversity of ecological systems, with disturbances directly reducing functional attributes such as invasion resistance, while eliminating the buffering effects of high species diversity. This combination of environmental change and diversity loss increases the risk of abrupt and potentially irreversible ecosystem collapse.  This research shows how biodiversity can be crucial for ecosystem stability despite appearing functionally insignificant beforehand, a relationship probably applicable to many ecosystems given the globally prevalent combination of intensive long-term land management and species loss.